Luckily for him, Ruben Dias does not have to face the unrelenting threat of Erling Haaland when he steps onto the field for a competitive game.
That’s not to say he wouldn’t be able to cope against the Norwegian - after all he kept him off the scoresheet in the two Champions League knockout legs in the 2020/21 season when Manchester City beat Borussia Dortmund.
But given the goal-scoring form Haaland has been in this season, it’s always better not to face him. But then again, in truth, he does face him every week.
READ MORE: What Pep Guardiola told Man City players at half-time vs Borussia Dortmund
While the attacker has been making Dias cheer during matches, he’s been making him puff in training.
With City’s packed schedule, the defender explained how he doesn’t always have to defend Haaland in training, but detailed how his prolific abilities are causing him and his fellow defenders to up their game.
Speaking ahead of the goalless draw with Dortmund in Tuesday’s Champions League group stage clash, Dias said: "We end up not having that much time to train against each other with so many games.
“But we can obviously say that it is good for me personally and I think it's good for everyone in terms of the quality we have around. You have to train with the best if you want to be the best. It makes us push harder."
Haaland is, on current form, the best striker in world football right now and this forgotten benefit can only help City in the long run. The Blues have conceded just once in their five Champions League group games and their five clean sheets in the league takes the overall tally to nine.
While he can hardly take masses of credit for this, Haaland may well have had a helping hand in increasing the alertness and attentiveness of his defensive colleagues - traits that will be invaluable against Europe’s elite.
READ NEXT:
